Tube cutting device



Feb. 15, 193s. L, C. S'TRINGER 2,108,217

TUBE CUTTNG DEVICE Filed May 5, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet l iorneys i Feb 15,1938. 1 ci STRINGER TUBE CUTTING DEVICE Filed May 5, 1937 5 sheets-sheet2 orneys Feb. 15, 1938.

L. C. STRINGER TUBE CUTTING DEVICE Filed May 5, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 3Inventor .4 Hornet/.s

Patented Feb. 15, 1938 PNT GFFECE TUBE CUTTING DEVICE Louis C. Stringer,Chicago, Ill., assignor to Electronics Supply Corp., a corporation ofDela- Application May 5, i937, Serial No. 140,957

10 Claims.

The present invention relates to what is believed to be a structurallynew and improved device for scoring glass tubes in general, the specicconcept as herein illustrated and particularly described having to dowith an ingenious method and means to facilitate accurate and reliableseverance of incandescent bulb portions.

Looking toward the promotion of a better understanding of the nature andtype of this novel bench-style manually controlled machine, it seems tobe in keeping with good vpolicy to direct attention to the specific lineof endeavor in which it is particularly adapted for expedient use, Tothis end it is to be pointed out that certain methods of reclaimingelectric lamps and bulbs have been brought into vogue to renovate,repair, and adequately recondition so-called burnt-out lamps.

Persons skilled in the art to which the inventio-n relates are familiarwith the fact that when the filament of an incandescent lamp is brokenor otherwise impaired, or the effectiveness of gas is destroyed, thelamp is useless unless the iilament is properly reconditioned andreplaced, this calling for a complete rebuilding of said lamp.

I have discovered the need for the perfection of a complete andsystematic method of rejuvenating and reclaiming incandescent bulbs, andinasmuch as one of the procedural steps involved therein necessitatesseverance of the neck from the bulbous shell to free thefilament-equipped mounting, a machine or tool adequate to accomplishthis result properly is in demand. Owing to the fragile nature ofincandescent bulbs or envelopes, it has been found that the deviceneeded for the purpose intended must be of a manually regulated and handcontrolled type, and thus, the purpose of the present invention is toperfect this phase of the general reclamation method through theinstrumentality of a structure aptly designed to do the job well.

The procedural aspects and accompanying features and advantages of theinvention will become more readily evident from the succeeding detaileddescription and the accompanying illustrative drawings disclosing thepreferred embodiment of the invention.

r, In the drawings:

"0 Figure l is a side elevational view of the complete assemblage inreadiness to accommodate the bulb for severance or cutting, this beingconstructed in accordance with the principles of the inventive concept.

Figure 2 is a top plan View of the arrangement depicted in Figure l.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partly in section, and partlyin elevation, said View being on the plane of the line 3--3 of Figure 2.5

Figure 4 is a detail section on the line -li of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is what may be called a front end elevation of the oscillatorycutter head with the cover plate removed. 10

Figure 6 is a horizontal section on the line 6 6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is what may be called an end elevation of the adapter abutment.

Figure 8 is a perspective View of one of the spring pressed cutter ordiamond point mounts.

Figure 9 is a cross-section on the line 9-9 of Figure. 3.

In the drawings, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the base or supportingframe i@ comp-rises a suitable bench-type base plate il having standardsor uprights i2 provided at their upper ends with bearings to accommodatethe oscillatory horizontal shaft or arbor i3. This is longitudinallyshiftable in the bearings parallel to the plate H and held inpredetermined set positions by the set screws M. On the outer end of thearbor is the adapter abutment or iitting to accommodate the incandescentbulb i5 being repaired. The adapter xture is denoted conveniently by thenumeral Hi. It comprises a detachable cup ll having a cushion i8 fittedtherein. The cup is detachably mounted on the arbor in any suitablefashion, as indicated at I9. In practice several different sizes ofadapter xtures i6 will be utilized to accommodate Varying types ofconventional glass bulbs, or tubes, as the case may be. Incidentally, itmay be mentioned that the bulb` i5 embodies the conventional bulbousbody or shell 2u having a neck 2l formed with the customary sealed-intip carrying the lament-equipped mount (not shown). During the course ofrepair, it becomes necessary, in accordance with my prescribed method,to sever the neck 2l from the body in order that the mount may beremoved for reconditioning and repair. This being a precision job, it isnecessary to form the score line 212 at a predetermined point formingthe juncture of the neck and shell or body 2li. This may be satis- 5Ufactorily accomplished in the present machine through theinstrumentality oi the cutterequipped mandrel unit mounted on the arborI3.

The aforementioned unit comprises a mandrel proper in the form of asleeve 23, this being sld- 55 ably and rotatably mounted on the arbor.The sleeve forms a convenient hand grip and it is provided at apredetermined point with a resilient latch 24 having a V-shaped detent25 releasably engageable with threads 26, whereby to provide a sort of arack and pawl locking connection between the mandrel and arbor. The useof the annular threads 25 makes'it possible to readily slide the mandrelto the desired position on the arbor, lock it, and thereafter freelyoscillate it or ,turn it for the cutting operation. On the end of thesleeve is a cross-head 21 provided with a pair of spaced parallelsupporting rods 28 carrying the cutter head 29. The preferred type ofhead comprises a disk or plate 30 having diametrically opposite groovesformed therein, as seen to advantage in Figure 5. The disk is centrallyapertured, as at 3l, to admit the entrance of the neck of the bulb, andin effect becomes an oscillatory annulus. Mounted in the grooves arespring pressed blocks or mounts S2 having the scoring point 33preferably diamond-point. The blocks are pressed simultaneously inwardlyunder the action of the spring 33 held in place by retention cleats 34.These spring pressed cutter elements are shielded and held in place by adetachable face or cover plate 35, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 6.

This complete cutter head, as a unit, is removably supported on theouter ends of the rods 28 by quick removable set screws 3E of the typeseen in Figure 6. Incidentally, to accommodate different types of bulbs,different sized cutter heads must be employed. The cutter heads arestandardized to t on the rods 2d. Moreover, each cutter head is the samein construction, and the only difference is in the accommodationaperture at the center to take care of different sized bulb necks.

I next call attention to the numerals 31 which designate latches foractuating trips for the spring pressed cutter elements. The outer` endsof the latches extend through slots 38 in the disk 38 and engage theblocks 32, as seen in Figure 3. These latches are pivotally mounted, asat 39, on supporting lugs 49, the latches having operating handles d!located on diametrically opposite sides of the mandrel or sleeve 23. Thehandles 4| terminate in spaced relation from the spring pawl 25 so asnot to interfere with the action thereof.

With this arrangement it is obvious that the position of the cutter head29 can be regulated and set with relation to the adapter fixture l5.This determines the position of the score line 22 on the neck of thebulb, as is obvious. In precision work of this character, a fineadjustment is required.

In practice, the position of the cutter head is set or regulated by themeans 25 and 26. This is accomplished by bodily sliding the mandre] andits cutter head as a unit on the arbor l 3. When the machine is set, thebulb 2B is held in one hand and the neck is inserted through the cuttingaperture in the head, the neck being brought to bear against thecushioning block I8 in the adapter cup il. This is brought out in Figure3. By holding the bulb in the left hand, for instance, and catching holdof the sleeve 23 with the right hand, an oscillatory twist back andforth, generally once around, will score the bulb, after which it can bebodily removed, a1- lowing the neck 2l to be detached to permit accessto be had for withdrawing the mount (not shown).

The methodical phase of the inventive concept resides, it is believed,in a method consisting in holding the bulb in one hand, and fitting itinto a hand rotated cutting tool, whereby upon holding the bulbstationary and oscillating or turning'the tool, the neck may be properlyscored and thereafter severed from the body in a prescribed and safemanner. The chief novelty, however, resides, it is believed, in theparticular construction of the machine or device for accomplishing thisjob.

It is thought that the description taken in connection with the drawingswill enable a clear understanding of the invention to be had. Therefore,a more lengthy description is thought unnecessary.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed, it is to be understood that minor changes coming within theeld of invention claimed may be resorted to if desired.

I claim:

1. A fragile tube cutting device of the class described comprising asupport, an arbor on said support, said arbor being provided with anadapter fixture against which one end of a bulb is held, a mandrelmounted for oscillation and sliding on said arbor, said mandrelincluding an annular cutter head adjustable toward and from said adapterfixture.

2. In a device of the class described, a relatively xed arbor having acushioned adapted device to accommodate one end of an incandescent orequivalent bulb, a rotary cutter-equipped head adjustable toward andfrom said fixture and adapted to surround the neck of the bulb, and amandrel on which said head is mounted, said mandrel in turn beingmounted on said arbor.

3. A glass cutting device of the class described comprising a relativelystationary arbor having an adapted member on one end, a mandrelrotatably and slidably mounted on said arbor, coacting means between themandrel and arbor to limit the sliding movement of the mandrel, a cutterhead supported from said mandrel, said cutter head including springpressed cutter elements, and remote control actuating means for saidcutter elements coacting with the cutter elements and mounted on saidmandrel.

4. In a structure of the class described, an abutment against which oneend of a bulb may be held, a cutter head associated with said abutmentand adjustable toward and from it, said cutter head being centrallyapertured to embrace the neck of the bulb, and manually regulateddiametrically opposed spring pressed scoring elements mounted in saidhead for scoring the neck.

5. In a device of the class described, a base including standards, anarbor slidably mounted in said standards, a detachable abutment Viixtureon said arbor, said arbor being provided with retention elements, asleeve slidably and rotatably mounted on said arbor and including a pawlcooperable with said retention elements, an annular cutter head, meanssupporting said cutter head on said sleeve, and latches pivotallymounted on said sleeve and engageable with cutter elements.

6. In a structure of the class described, a support including a basehaving standards rising therefrom, a shaft mounted in said standards,said shaft being provided on one end with a removable cushion-equippedabutment cup, a sleeve mounted on said shaft, coacting means between thesleeve and shaft to permit the sleeve to rotate and to permit it to beslidably adjusted and held in a predetermined adjusted position, and acutter head iixedly mounted on said sleeve.

7. A glass tube scoring device of the class described comprisingrelatively xed adapter and abutment means against which the sealed-n endof a bulb may be braced and held, and complemental scoring means inalignment with and adjustable toward and from said first-named means.

8. A scoring device for glass tube severance of the class describedcomprising a relatively fixed abutment against Which one end of the Workis adapted to be held by hand, and a complemental oscillatory scoringunit of a hand rotated type, said scoring unit being located in spacedlongitudinal alignment with the abutment and being adapted to encirclethe Work to circumscribe a breakable score line around the Work at apredetermined distance from said abutment.

9. In a structural assemblage of the class described, a rotary bulb neckembracing and scoring annulus designed to permit the 4neck of the bulbto be held, by hand, in operative relationship with the scoring means,and a relatively xed stop in workable alignment with the axis of saidannulus to allow one end of the bulb to be pressed thereaganst.

10. A bulb scoring device embodying a scoring unit centrally aperturedto permit the neck o-f a bulb to be'inserted and projected through andbeyond the aperture, and scoring means carried by said unit andcooperable with the aperture to surround said neck.

LQUIS C. S'IRINQER.

